(NaturalNews) Every day, Levi Bowland eats a raw vegan diet that consists of melons, several bananas, salads, sprouts and foods that are never heated above 118 degrees Fahrenheit (1). While raw food advocates like David Wolfe maintain that "[c]ooked food is dead, lifeless, and boring," (2) others warn that the dietary lifestyle may be problematic, especially for children.

Levi Bowland, or "Raw Food Levi" in the social media world, for example, is only 10 years old.

Experts, families weigh in on pros and cons of a raw food diet

His parents ditched their own unhealthy eating habits which consisted of candies and fried, fatty foods, prior to their son's birth and have raised him on the same raw food diet that they too enjoy. "We didn't want Levi to grow up with those same addictions," (1) said father Dave Bowland. However, it's precisely that mindset that is bothersome to some experts, such as Dr. Margo Maine, a specialist in eating disorders in West Hartford, Conn. Dr. Maine says that children on such diets may be "an extension of the parents' eating obsessions, and maybe even a clinical eating disorder that they have sort of packaged in this raw diet mentality."

Still, the increase in entire families who are enjoying a raw food diet, and staying healthy while on it, is widespread. Other families are proof that a raw food diet is indeed beneficial, for adults and children alike.

Take 31-year-old Julia Rodrigues, who is a mother of two and says that, during her second pregnancy, she ate nearly every meal entirely raw vegan and that her toddlers eat raw (1). She says her family is extremely healthy, and furthermore, she credits the dietary lifestyle to helping her and her husband lose a combined total of 150 pounds. As for those who take issue with her and her family's eating preferences, she retorts, "If I were eating McDonald's all day you wouldn't say anything to me, but because I'm eating fruits and vegetables you would?"

Little Bowland enjoys his lifestyle, saying "I have been a raw vegan from birth and I love it. I never get sick and I have lots of energy. I love raw fruits and veggies!" (3) Like most children, he wants a bike, but he also says he's saving up money so he can head to the Woodstock Fruit Festival in upstate New York (4).

For those wondering, raw zucchini hummus and bananas are among his favorites.

Sources for this article include:

(1) http://well.blogs.nytimes.com

(2) http://www.living-foods.com

(3) https://www.facebook.com

(4) http://www.rawfoodlevi.com

http://science.naturalnews.com

About the author:
Raw Michelle is a natural health blogger and researcher, sharing her passions with others, using the Internet as her medium. She discusses topics in a straight forward way in hopes to help people from all walks of life achieve optimal health and well-being. She has authored and published hundreds of articles on topics such as the raw food diet and green living in general. >>> Click here to see more by Michelle